Collapsible tube holder and squeezer



June 20, 1950 J. R. MCGRATH COLLAPSIBLE TUBE HOLDER AND SQUEEZER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 31, 1947 Invmfor James R. Mc Grath June I 20, 1950 J. R. M GRATH COLLAPSIBLE TUBE HOLDER AND SQUEEZER Filed Jan. 31, 1947 VII/ll/l/l/l/ ///////////l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor James R. No Gram Q4. WWW Maw,

Patented June 2Q, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE TUBE TIOLDER AND SQUEEZER 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved device for holding and squeezing collapsible tubes to dispense toothpaste or the like therefrom in desired quantities.

The present invention particularly relates to the squeezing means and to the means for mounting the device upon a wall or the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of the above kind which is comparatively simple and durable in construction, easy to use, and efficient in operation.

A further object is to provide a device of the above kind which, by simple pressure on a conveniently arranged lever, will eject a desired quantity of material from the tube, the squeezing means being of such construction as to thoroughly dispense the material from the tube.

More specific objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a collapsible tube holder and squeezer constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the same.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket, drawn on a reduced scale.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view showing the casing in vertical section on lines 66 of Figure 5 and showing the squeezing means and the collapsible tube in front elevation, the squeezing means being partly broken away and in section.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 7-1 of Figure 3 and drawn on an enlarged scale, the collapsible tube being omitted, and

Figure 8 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the squeezing means.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 indicates a vertical elongated casing having a tapered bottom wall 6 provided with a central opening I. In use, the collapsible tube 8 is placed in the casing while inverted so that the tapered end of the tube 8 rests on the tapered bottom wall 6 and the neck 9 of the tube 8 projects through the opening I. This is accomplished while the c1osure cap ID of the tube 8 is removed. The casing 5 has a flat back wall I I, and is formed centrally of the front thereof with a vertical elongated slot or opening 12 which extends from a point adjacent the bottom Wall 6 through the upper edge of the casing. A removable closure cap 13 is provided on the upper end of the casing 5 and is provided on its underside with a rib M arranged to enter the upper end of the slot 12 so as to keep the portions of the casing at opposite sides of the slot l2 and at this end of the casing in properly spaced relation. The closure cap ID for the neck 9 of the collapsible tube is prevented from becoming lost by removably and rotatably engaging the same in a suitable spider-like clasp I5 connected to the bottom of easing 5 by a flexible member or chain [6.

Simple and efficient means is provided for removably mounting the casing 5 upon a Wall or like vertical support W, and such means includes a sheet metal horizontally disposed clasp l1 formed to snugly embrace the intermediate portion of the casing 5 except at the slot I2, the free ends of the jaws of clasp I! being spaced apart so as to terminate at opposite sides of the slot I 2. The clasp I! has upwardly and downwardly projecting ears l8 adapted to receive screws [9 or the like which are driven into the wall or support W so as to rigidly fasten the clasp H in its horizontal position. The side portions of the jaws of clasp H are formed with outwardly pressed portions 20 which form internal pockets adapted to receive transverse ribs 2| provided on the sides of the casing 5. The outwardly pressed portions 20 and the ribs 21 are preferably of rounded form as shown more clearly in Figure 7, and the arrangement is such that when the casing 5 is forced downwardly through the clasp l l, the ribs 2! will snap into the pockets formed by the portions 20 and securely hold the casing 5 against accidental vertical displacement. At the same time, the form of the parts 20 and 2| and the resiliency of the jaws of clasp l1 permit manual or forcible removal of the casing 5 from the clasp I? when it is desired to remove an empty collapsible tube from the casing or to insert a full collapsible tube therein. U-shaped toothbrush hangers 22 may be rigidly mounted on the side portions of the jaws of clasp I! for use in an obvious manner.

The tube squeezing means comprises a follower block 23 slidably fitted in the casing 5 and having a fiat back wall which is recessed as at 24 to present a minimum area of contact and frictional engagement with the back wall I I of the casing. The follower block 23 is provided with a transverse vertical slot 25 through which the closed end of the collapsible tube 8 is adapted to freely extend. At the rear of the slot 25, the follower block 23 is provided with a depending extension 26 having a convex curved front face 21 and constituting a fixed jaw. A curved swinging jaw plate 28 coacts with the fixed jaw 28 for squeezing the material from the tube 8, and this swinging jaw plate 28 is hinged at the top to the follower block 23 directly in front of the slot 25. For this purpose, the swinging jaw plate 28 is provided at its ends with upwardly projecting hinge knuckles 28 which are received in side recesses 30 provided in the follower block 23, and the knuckles 29 are journalled on pivot pins 3| carried by the follower block 23 within the recesses 30. It will be noted that the jaw plate 28 is curved rearwardly and that the knuckles 29 are extended forwardly of the slot 25 so that the jaw plate 28 will have a rolling action on the front side of the tube 8 when said jaw plate 28 is swung rearwardly toward the fixed jaw 26. A lever 32 is fixed to the lower portion of the jaw plate 28 intermediate the sides of the latter, and this lever projects forwardly through the slot I2 of easing 5. The arrangement is such that by depressing the lever 32, the jaw plate 28 may be swung rearwardly toward the fixed jaw 26 for squeezing the adjacent portion of the tube 2 and forcing the desired quantity of material from the collapsible tube. Forward and upward swinging movement of the jaw plate 23 away from the fixed jaw 28 is properly limited by an adjustable stop screw 33 vertically threaded through the forward portion of the follower block 23 and having a projecting lower end disposed to be contacted by the lever 32.

In use, the cover 13 and the follower block 23 are removed from the casing 5 from and through the top of the latter respectively. The closure cap [8 of the collapsible tube 8 is then removed, and said tube 8 is then inverted and inserted into the casing 5 with the neck 3 of the tube 8 protruding through the bottom opening ll of the casing. The follower block 23 is then inserted in the top of the casing 5 so that the closed end of the tube 8 is extended upwardly through the slot 25. Cap I3 is then replaced so that its rib l4 enters the upper end of slot 12. The follower block 23 is then forced downwardly so that the fixed jaw 26 forces the upper portion of the tube 8 forwardly with the jaw plate 28 in its forwardly and up- Wardly swung position as shown by dotted lines in Figure 5. By pressing downwardly on lever 32, the jaw plate 28 is swung downwardly and rearwardly so as to coact with the fixed jaw 26 and force a desired quantity of the material from the tube 8 through its neck 9. The closure cap II], which has been previously engaged in the clasp I3, is then screwed onto the neck 9 until use of the device is again desired. Due to the swinging and rolling action of the jaw plate 28, the material is effectively and substantially completely forced from the squeezed portion of the collapsible tube. This operation is repeated each time the device is used and until the contents of the tube 8 are completely dispensed. By proper manipulation, the lever 32 may be used to move the follower plate downwardly without swinging the jaw plate 28 rearwardly until the follower plate has been fed downwardly for the next 6 squeezing operation. This downward movement of the follower block is considerably aided by gravity, so that little downward pressure is re- 4 quired to position the squeezing device for the succeeding squeezing operation.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. The device is very simple and durable in construction, easy to use, and efiicient in operation.

Minor changes in details of construction are contemplated, such as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible tube holder and squeezer comprising a vertically elongated casing having a central bottom opening for the passage of the discharge neck of a collapsible tube therethrough and provided with a central vertical elongated opening in the front thereof extending through the upper end of the casing, and a squeezing means for the collapsible tube including a follower block slidably fitted in the casing and having a transverse vertical slot through which the upper end of the collapsible tube is adapted to be freely passed, said follower block having a depending extension at the rear of said slot provided with a curved convex front face and forming a, fixed jaw, a rearwardly curved swinging jaw plate hinged to the bottom of said follower block at the front of said slot and coacting with the fixed jaw to force material from the collapsible tube upon downward and rearward swinging movement of said swinging jaw plate, and a central lever rigid with said swinging jaw plate and projecting forwardly through said elongated opening of the casing for use in swinging the jaw plate toward the fixed jaw upon depression thereof.

2. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein said follower block is provided with side recesses and pivot pins within said recesses, said swinging jaw plate being provided at the sides with forwardly curved and upwardly extending hinge knuckles journalled on said pivot pins.

3. The construction defined in claim 1, in combination with an adjustable stop screw vertically threaded through the forward portion of said follower block and having a projecting lower end arranged in the path of said lever to limit forward swinging of the jaw plate.

4. The construction defined in claim 1, in combination with a removable closure cap for the upper end of the casing, said closure cap having a bottom rib arranged to enter the upper end of said elongated opening to maintain the portions of the casing at opposite sides of the upper end of said elongated opening in proper spaced relation.

JAMES R. MCGRATH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,919,767 Bohlman July 25, 1933 1,964,311 Brehm June 26, 1934 

